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Much of Holding's current district would move into another. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

North Carolina Republicans are gearing up for a showdown between 13th District Rep. George Holding and 2nd District Rep. Renee Ellmers as a result of a proposed new congressional map the General Assembly approved Friday.

"Nobody's too thrilled about a primary, but that's the democratic way," Carter Wrenn, a consultant working for the Holding campaign, told The Raleigh News and Observer.

Will the last endangered Democratic official in North Carolina please turn out the lights?

Rep. Brad Miller (D) announced his retirement this morning. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue, facing the likely prospect of an epic defeat this November, announced her decision not to run for a second term this afternoon. Later, politically vulnerable Rep. Mike McIntyre (D) opened the door to running for governor of the Tar Heel State. And a local news report tonight said Rep. Heath Shuler (D) is eyeing a bid for governor as well. A Shuler spokeswoman had no comment.

Updated: 9:20 a.m. | Five-term Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) will retire at the end of the 112th Congress.

In redistricting, a Republican-controlled Tar Heel State Legislature had drawn Miller out of his comfortably Democratic 13th district and made it solidly Republican. His home was placed in the 4th district represented by Rep. David Price, dean of the North Carolina Democratic delegation. Miller's decision spares Democrats a potentially bruising Member-versus-Member race.